Indian cinematic classic Sholay is set to return to the big screen in a fully restored, uncut form nearly five decades after its original release. The 1975 film will receive its world premiere on June 27 at the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna, Italy, marking the film’s 50th anniversary.
The restored version will be screened at the festival’s open-air venue, Piazza Maggiore, giving audiences a chance to view the original ending and two previously deleted scenes that were missing from the version widely released in theatres.
Directed by Ramesh Sippy and penned by the celebrated screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, Sholay is considered one of the most influential and widely watched films in Indian cinema. The film blended elements of action, comedy, tragedy and thriller, backed by an iconic score composed by R.D. Burman.
Sholay tells the story of a retired police officer, Thakur Baldev Singh, who hires two petty criminals, Veeru and Jai, to capture the notorious bandit Gabbar Singh. The film featured a star-studded cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bhaduri, and Amjad Khan as the menacing Gabbar.
According to the team, the original film negative was damaged, prompting them to work with interpositives and a rare colour reversal intermediate found in London. These materials included the film’s original conclusion and missing scenes, unseen by the public for nearly 50 years.
“It has taken us three years, but we were able to find the original ending and some deleted scenes that the world will see for the first time at the grand premiere,” said Shehzad Sippy, producer at Sippy Films. “It’s been a labour of love to resurrect the film and this is a tribute to the vision and the legacy of my grandfather G.P. Sippy.”
Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan, reflecting on the film’s enduring legacy, remarked, “Some things in life remain permanently etched in your mind. Sholay is one such film.”
Dharmendra, who played one of the film’s lead roles, called the film “the 8th wonder of the world,” adding that he was delighted to hear of its restoration and believed it would once again captivate audiences as it did half a century ago.
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